F.P.Journe Overload

Hi All,

A full review of my new Dead Second Tourbillon will follow (you couldn’t escape it!) but on my recent trip through Asia (a completely indulgent long weekend of watch boutiques, parties and food) my PuristS friends spoilt me by presenting a succession of wonderful F.P.Journe pieces. What a delightful way to welcome my new Dead Second Tourbillon into the Journe ‘family’.

You will have seen Alec and Justin’s coverage of the “Perpetually Journe” evening in Hong Kong and I thought I would put all the best F.P.Journe photos from that event and from Singapore into this one post. It was all a bit much to take in, but I hope the F.P.Journe admirers enjoy …

Andrew

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So here are some general images to whet your appetite. And I will follow with more on specific watches, including some more videos.

From the Perpetually Journe HK GTG this was the F.P.Journe line-up for the evening. From L to R: BMOP Octa Calendrier, William & Son Piece Unique Octa Calendrier, Black label Octa Calendrier, Octa Perpetuelle (x3), Octa Automatique Reserve, Centigraphe Souveraine, Tourbillon Souveraine (the Dead Seconds Tourbillon), BMOP Chronometre a Resonance, Octa RdM, Vagabondage II.

Two Pt Octa’s: on the left the 18k RG movement with 22K RG rotor in production since 2004 and on the right the original rhodium-plated brass movement (1999-2004) with 22K RG rotor. While the RG movement is luxurious and rich in colour, I personally enjoy the original brass movement and the contrasting silver finish with the RG automatic rotor. The finish on the movement, particularly the anglage, also improved on the later watches.

Ludovic Ballouard worked with F.P.Journe for seven years before embarking on his own company. Building on his experience with ‘springs & things’ working on the Journe Sonnerie Souveraine, he created the Upside Down watch. There is a distinct family resemblance across these watches to my eye which is nice. Ludo still wears an FPJ RG/BMOP Calendrier, housing his favourite Journe complication.

L to R: RG/WG dial 38mm Calendrier, RG/RG 40mm Calendrier, Pt/WG 40mm DS, Pt/RG 40mm DS, Pt/WG 38mm DS

L to R: the Pt/WG dial Resonance and Dead Second Tourbillon, RG Chronometre Souveraine.

The now classic Chronometre Souveraine in a 38mm Pt case. The dial really ‘pops’ on this watch. The 40mm case with its wider bezel tends to overpower the piece. If you have a large wrist then choose the 40mm, otherwise the 38mm is the perfect daily wearer

This message has been edited by AndrewD on 2011-03-15 23:06:29 This message has been edited by AndrewD on 2011-03-17 15:27:51 This message has been edited by MTF on 2011-03-19 21:07:48

Available on the marketplace

64 F.P. Journe listings are live on the eBay market and 270 collector listings on the WatchProSite marketplace.

F.P.Journe Octa Reserve De Marche Ref. AN Platinum Salmon Dial

415,000 USD

New with box and papers · US

View all F.P. Journe on the marketplace →

FP Journe Linesport Automatique Réserve Rose Gold Grey Dial 44mm AR G 44 B GR

239,000 USD

Pre-owned - Excellent · US

Black Mother-of-Pearl Chronometre a Resonance

By: AndrewD : March 15th, 2011-23:11

One of the highlights of the Perpetually Journe evening was to spend time with the BMOP Resonance. This watch, in RG, was from the first series for Sincere Fine Watches in 2005. Everyone had fun photographing the watch from different angles with squeals o...

Tourbillon Souveraine (video inside)

By: AndrewD : March 15th, 2011-23:30

The focus of my attention for the last 6 years, and great to see both the original remontoir and the various Dead Second versions. A more complete review to follow. The 'original' Tourbillon Remontoir (1999 - 2004): 38mm Pt case with WG dial Two Dead Seco...

Vagabondage II (video inside)

By: AndrewD : March 15th, 2011-23:40

This Vagabondage II is one of 69 pieces in Pt (there are also 68 pieces in RG that have not yet started to deliver). It houses a manual wound movement (Cal. 1509) with jumping hours and minutes (see video) a power Reserve de Marche (40h) and a constant fo...

... we cannot post F.P.Journe content, or any other watch manufacture that does not have a dedicated forum, on HoMe, the general forum. Yes the Journe Forum was excellent under Brad's guidance, but the watches can still be presented and discussed here. An...

I know, just don't seem to see them everyday like before, thanks.

By: doubleup : March 20th, 2011-10:29

Octa Calendrier

By: AndrewD : March 15th, 2011-23:46

Like most of the regular production Journe’s, the Calendrier is available in 38mm or 40mm (x10.6mm) RG or Pt cases with WG or RG dials. The automatic Cal. 1300-3 with 120h PR powers the annual calendar with large retrograde date pointer and day of the wee...

William & Son Piece Unique Octa Calendrier

By: AndrewD : March 15th, 2011-23:56

This Piece Unique Calendrier was created for the Tenth Anniversary of the Mayfair high-end jeweller William & Son. The blued rehaut ring really pops when it catches the light. Beautiful piece....

grey on blue

By: donizetti : March 18th, 2011-07:01

such a lovely Journe combination. Best Andreas

Black Label AND Black Mother-of-Pearl Octa Calendriers

By: AndrewD : March 16th, 2011-00:04

Interesting to see these Calendriers together. Firstly because the BMOP dial doesn’t produce the same rainbow of colours as the BMOP Resonance and secondly because the Black Label Calendrier has a matt black dial while the BMOP dial is shiny. Both are fan...

Black Label Calendrier

By: AndrewD : March 16th, 2011-00:08

The Black Label Boutique Octa Calendrier:...

The BL Octa Calendier look stunning!

By: Goh : March 17th, 2011-19:23

Wow, thanks for sharing all these Andrew. Best, Goh

Black Mother-of-Pearl Calendrier

By: AndrewD : March 16th, 2011-00:11

Look carefully and you will see some colour flairs. I love the deep inky shiny blackness of this material....

Octa Perpetuelle (the Perpetual Calendrier)

By: AndrewD : March 16th, 2011-00:15

Housed in a 40x10.6mm titanium case with a ruthenium dial and PG highlights (crown, secured month corrector at 8 o’clock) the LE (99 pieces) was created for the Fifth Anniversary of the Tokyo Journe Boutique in 2010. The Perpetual Calendrier uses th...

Centigraphe Souveraine

By: AndrewD : March 16th, 2011-14:54

I thought this version of the Centigraph in RG with RG dial and RG movement was stunning. The oversized crown just adds to the presence. It was clearly visible on the owner’s wrist from across the room. And while you might think that all that gold would b...

If there is gonna be another Journe, this is it.

By: Hororgasm : March 17th, 2011-20:51

And in this exact version as well. Is tht Brad's? Best, Horo

Property of a Gentleman

By: AndrewD : March 17th, 2011-21:09

As are most of the watches shown. All except mine, perhaps. ;-) A

oh, so it's NOT Brad's then...

By: ei8htohms : March 18th, 2011-12:37

I kid! I kid!

Not every FPJ is Brad's, but ...

By: AndrewD : March 18th, 2011-18:43

... it wasn't a bad guess! Andrew

Octa automatique Reserve

By: AndrewD : March 16th, 2011-15:08

A watch with the ‘full dial’ aesthetic of the CS but with the convenience of a date and automatic movement (the Cal 1300-3) and a long (5 day) power reserve. Available in the usual 38mm and 40mm Pt or RG cases....

Sonnerie Souveraine

By: AndrewD : March 16th, 2011-16:05

Journe’s ding-dong watch. Grande and petite sonnerie and on-demand minute repeater. Manual wound with 120h PR (48h in grande sonnerie mode) in a 42x12mm steel case – quite commanding in relation to Journe’s usual 40mm case size, but with all the familiar ...

I've never seen any FP watches in action

By: kevincosta85 : March 17th, 2011-16:16

I was surprised to see the small seconds on the FP Tourbillon tick like a quartz watch? I would never have thought, it moved like that.

That's the magic of the Dead Seconds Tourbillon

By: AndrewD : March 17th, 2011-16:51

Hi Kevin, Don't think of it in terms of a quartz-like display. The dead seconds (Seconde Morte in this case) has a long and interesting history which we will explore in a future thread (or you can search through past posts). I believe it is really more of...

Beautiful series of posts, Andrew!

By: dxboon : March 17th, 2011-22:14

I really enjoyed seeing the wide variety of Journes on display. For me the CS remains my favorite. It's simple and perfect. Of course, your new love -- the Dead Seconds Tourbillon -- is no slouch. LOL! I'd welcome falling asleep to the tick-tock of that w...

The CS is definitely a classic

By: AndrewD : March 20th, 2011-04:07

No wonder it won the Best Men's Watch award at the 2005 Grand Prix d'Horlogerie of Geneva. I probably prefer the off centre dials of the original watches, but now that I have satiated my appetite for those, who knows what will be next! Andrew

Thanks a lot for theses series of pictures !

By: foversta : March 17th, 2011-15:39

Thanks Andrew and BTW, I've just shot the Centigraphe so more to come soon ! Fr.Xavier

Looking forward to it already! [nt]

By: AndrewD : March 17th, 2011-22:34

No message body

Oh my.....

By: sidneyc : March 17th, 2011-15:56

I'm not sure I would have survived if I was at the same place as you were Andrew. Not sure if my heart and blood pressure could handle all that.... That's an unbelievable gathering of FPJs.... so many rare pieces! You must have had an awfully great time w...

Certainly more than ...

By: AndrewD : March 17th, 2011-16:04

... you would ever see in an FPJ Boutique. More like an FPJ Museum! I did feel a bit like a kid in a toy store. Pleased you liked the post. Andrew

Thanks for the info Andrew

By: kevincosta85 : March 17th, 2011-17:20

I had no idea, A dead beat seconds even moved like that. I guess I was confused when, I saw it move like a quartz. I have seen those clocks with the dead beat seconds, but never in a watch way cool.

I like the overload

By: SamEE : March 17th, 2011-19:56

Beautiful pics! Every watch more beautiful than the other. You Have made me a FP journe fan, I never saw FP journe so close up and with so many models. I saw the details in your pics and I like it. Thanks for sharing Cheers SamEE

That's great, Sam. I have fulfilled my aim then ...

By: AndrewD : March 20th, 2011-04:13

The next step is to view some F.P.Journe watches in the metal. While the first pictures of the watches I saw grabbed my attention (and even more so the concept behind them), it wasn't until I got to handle them that I was really bowled over. It's the whol...

Excellent coverage and range of JourneS

By: Hororgasm : March 17th, 2011-21:12

I do not recall a larger gathering of the Journes in recent memory. Best, Horo

Wonderful post, Andrew! But

By: CaliforniaJed : March 17th, 2011-22:21

there is no such thing as Journe overload! Best, CaliforniaJed

I can't really disagree ...

By: AndrewD : March 18th, 2011-03:13

... and that's why you hot all these watches in the one thread. Pleased you enjoyed it, Jed. Andrew

Great post AndrewD

By: dreamer8 : March 17th, 2011-22:32

Very detailed and nicely photographed.Real eye candy for me.I wait in anticipation of seeing your dead seconds tourby soon.I am sure the craftsmanship and finish will blow my socks off LOL HAGWE.

Looking forward to sharing the excitement ...

By: AndrewD : March 18th, 2011-03:12

The strength of F.P.Journe watches is in the overall design, mechanical novelty, wearability and nod to traditional horological ideas. While the "finish" is good, and has improved from the early days of the company, it is not the primary point of interest...

I'm all FPJ Overdosed........

By: i_am_Sam : March 18th, 2011-05:59

And I like that.... Stunning photo review of the FPJ collections... My favorite is of course the Tourbillon Souverain... But of course the others are also breathtaking.... Thank you for sharing this really nice pictorial... have a great weekend Andrew! Sa...

Horological Meandering